Sandwiched dramatically between the altitudinous grasslands of the Campo Imperatore and the soaring peaks of Gran Sasso, L Aquila does well to fuse the flavours of northern and southern Italy into one bite-sized and charming town. Not only is it surrounded by some of oldest (and busiest) ski resorts outside of the country’s alpine belt (check Pescasseroli, Monte Rotondo and Scanno), but the centre also booms with Renaissance grandeur and a history that traces all the way back to the German come Sicilian monarchs of the 12^th century.

L Aquila tour guides usually set the ball rolling by delving straight into the patchwork of aging buildings that pepper the centre here—the Santa Maria di Collemaggio, the dazzling Saint Bernardino Basilica—before settling down for a glass of Apulian white in the al fresco trattorias that dot the narrow side streets around Piazza del Doumo. Then, Roman ruins beckon from the countryside all around, while the truly breath-taking Rocca Calascio castle is certainly not to be missed. Unfortunately many of these enthralling spots were severely damaged by a regional earthquake in 2009, and the cathedral, along with Forte Spagnolo and other must-sees remain closed for repairs to the public at the time of writing (2015).